"Always and Forever" is an R&B song written by Rod Temperton and produced by Barry Blue. It was first recorded by the British-based multinational funk-disco band Heatwave in 1976. Released as a single on December 3, 1977, the song is included on Heatwave's debut album Too Hot to Handle (1976) and has been covered by numerous artists, becoming something of a standard.
The song reached number 18 on the US BillboardHot 100 in March 1978 after peaking at number two on the US BillboardR&B chart, the band's highest showing on that tally. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA on September 6, 2001.[1][2] In the UK, the songs "Too Hot to Handle" and "The Groove Line" were released before a double A-sided "Always and Forever" / "Mind Blowing Decisions" was issued in November 1978. This became the band's second top-10 hit on the UK Singles Chart when it spent two weeks at number nine in December.
After the international success of Heatwave's disco single "Boogie Nights", "Always and Forever" was chosen as the U.S. follow-up single in late 1977. A ballad featuring lead vocals by Johnnie Wilder, Jr., "Always and Forever" stood out among the band's predominantly disco repertoire and became a successful U.S. hit song in early 1978.
In the late 1970s through to the 1980s, it was a popular "slow dance" song at high school proms, weddings, particularly in inner-city areas with a high minority population. The song was also played during the slow dance scene in the movie House Party.
In the liner notes to Heatwave's 1996 compilation album, The Best of Heatwave: Always and Forever, music writer and former Billboard contributor Brian Chin notes that Wilder
says that it was right around the time of the single release of "Always and Forever" that he knew Heatwave's music would stand the test of time. This pop standard is emblematic of the Heatwave fusion of influences - R&B, teen romance, and both European and American flavors of pop.[3]
AllMusic reviewer Craig Lytle states that the song "was and continues to be an ageless piece. Johnnie Wilder's vocal exhibition throughout the vamp is breathtaking."[4]
In 2009, Essence magazine included the song in their list of the "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time".[5]
Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a faithful rendition of a romantic standard". He added, "Layered with glorious strings and the golden input of producer Walter Afanasieff, single has the potential to go where his "Endless Love" duet with Mariah Carey did not–right to the top of the Hot 100. His voice has rarely fit so well with a song intended for pop radio consumption."[16] Steve Baltin from Cash Box stated, "Despite the challenge of young guns on the r&b charts and big-name stars on the pop charts, Luther’s new album Songs, made up of covers, has been a big crossover hit. (...) This remake of an r&b classic should keep the fire burning, as Vandross gives the song the treatment, exploding at the climax. Big on A.C. and urban, with some top 40 appeal."[17]James Masterton felt, in his weekly UK chart commentary, that "it never was the most exciting of records and Luther does little to add to this."[18]
Among many artists who have recorded versions of "Always and Forever" is the American R&B vocal group Whistle, who released their single in 1990 from their album of the same name. Their take on the song made the top 10 on the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at number nine, while also cracking the top 40 of the Hot 100 at #35.[28]
^"Adult Contemporary Music Chart - Billboard". Billboard.
^Whistle Billboard chart info AllMusic.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
External links
Heatwave US 7-inch single Discogs
Heatwave UK 12-inch single Discogs
Whistle US 12-inch single Discogs
Luther Vandross UK CD single Discogs
December 28, 2022
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Always and Forever is an R amp B song written by Rod Temperton and produced by Barry Blue It was first recorded by the British based multinational funk disco band Heatwave in 1976 Released as a single on December 3 1977 the song is included on Heatwave s debut album Too Hot to Handle 1976 and has been covered by numerous artists becoming something of a standard Always and Forever Side A of US 7 inch singleSingle by Heatwavefrom the album Too Hot to HandleB side Mind Blowing Decisions UK Super Soul Sister US ReleasedDecember 3 1977Recorded1976GenreR amp B soulLength3 32 single edit 6 14 album version LabelGTO UK Epic 50490 US Songwriter s Rod TempertonProducer s Barry BlueHeatwave singles chronology Too Hot to Handle 1977 Always and Forever 1977 The Groove Line 1978 The song reached number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1978 after peaking at number two on the US Billboard R amp B chart the band s highest showing on that tally The single was certified platinum by the RIAA on September 6 2001 1 2 In the UK the songs Too Hot to Handle and The Groove Line were released before a double A sided Always and Forever Mind Blowing Decisions was issued in November 1978 This became the band s second top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart when it spent two weeks at number nine in December Contents 1 Heatwave version 2 Charts 2 1 Weekly charts 2 2 Year end charts 3 Luther Vandross version 3 1 Critical reception 3 2 Track listing 3 3 Charts 4 Other significant cover versions 5 References 6 External linksHeatwave version EditAfter the international success of Heatwave s disco single Boogie Nights Always and Forever was chosen as the U S follow up single in late 1977 A ballad featuring lead vocals by Johnnie Wilder Jr Always and Forever stood out among the band s predominantly disco repertoire and became a successful U S hit song in early 1978 In the late 1970s through to the 1980s it was a popular slow dance song at high school proms weddings particularly in inner city areas with a high minority population The song was also played during the slow dance scene in the movie House Party In the liner notes to Heatwave s 1996 compilation album The Best of Heatwave Always and Forever music writer and former Billboard contributor Brian Chin notes that Wilder says that it was right around the time of the single release of Always and Forever that he knew Heatwave s music would stand the test of time This pop standard is emblematic of the Heatwave fusion of influences R amp B teen romance and both European and American flavors of pop 3 AllMusic reviewer Craig Lytle states that the song was and continues to be an ageless piece Johnnie Wilder s vocal exhibition throughout the vamp is breathtaking 4 In 2009 Essence magazine included the song in their list of the 25 Best Slow Jams of All Time 5 Charts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1977 78 PeakpositionCanada Top Singles RPM 10Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 6 28Ireland IRMA 7 17UK Singles OCC 8 9US Billboard Hot 100 9 18US Hot Soul Singles Billboard 9 2US Adult Contemporary Billboard 10 33US Cash Box Top 100 11 12 Year end charts Edit Chart 1978 PositionCanada 12 81US Billboard Hot 100 13 75US Cash Box Top 100 14 99Luther Vandross version Edit Always and Forever Single by Luther Vandrossfrom the album SongsReleasedSeptember 1994 UK January 1995 U S GenreR amp BLength4 53LabelEpic RecordsSongwriter s Rod TempertonProducer s Walter Afanasieff Luther Vandross Luther Vandross singles chronology Endless Love 1994 Always and Forever 1994 Love the One You re With Going in Circles 1995 Music video Always and Forever Live on YouTubeAmerican R amp B soul singer songwriter Luther Vandross released his cover of Always and Forever as the second single from his ninth album Songs 1994 His recording earned him a Grammy Award nomination in the category Best Male R amp B Vocal performance at the Grammy Awards of 1995 and placed on four Billboard charts with its best showing on the R amp B chart where it reached number 16 Vandross s single made the Hot 100 at number 58 and also appeared on Billboard s adult contemporary and rhythmic top 40 charts 15 Critical reception Edit Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a faithful rendition of a romantic standard He added Layered with glorious strings and the golden input of producer Walter Afanasieff single has the potential to go where his Endless Love duet with Mariah Carey did not right to the top of the Hot 100 His voice has rarely fit so well with a song intended for pop radio consumption 16 Steve Baltin from Cash Box stated Despite the challenge of young guns on the r amp b charts and big name stars on the pop charts Luther s new album Songs made up of covers has been a big crossover hit This remake of an r amp b classic should keep the fire burning as Vandross gives the song the treatment exploding at the climax Big on A C and urban with some top 40 appeal 17 James Masterton felt in his weekly UK chart commentary that it never was the most exciting of records and Luther does little to add to this 18 Track listing Edit US UK CD single Always and Forever Radio Edit 4 00 Searching 8 02 The Glow of Love 6 11 Always and Forever Live 5 03Charts Edit Chart 1995 PeakpositionCanada Top Singles RPM 19 74Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 20 41Scotland OCC 21 28UK Singles OCC 22 20US Billboard Hot 100 23 24 58US Rhythmic Billboard 25 37US Hot R amp B Singles Billboard 26 16US Adult Contemporary Billboard 27 25Other significant cover versions EditAmong many artists who have recorded versions of Always and Forever is the American R amp B vocal group Whistle who released their single in 1990 from their album of the same name Their take on the song made the top 10 on the Billboard R amp B chart peaking at number nine while also cracking the top 40 of the Hot 100 at 35 28 American pop singer Johnny Mathis recorded the song for his 2008 compilation album A Night to Remember References Edit RIAA platinum certification Heatwave Always and Forever RIAA retrieved November 12 2017 Whitburn Joel 2010 The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits 9th Edition Billboard Publications page 293 Liner notes from The Best of Heatwave Always and Forever 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Too Hot to Handle album review AllMusic Retrieved 12 August 2009 25 Best Slow Jams of All Time Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca 1978 04 29 Retrieved 2019 07 20 The Irish Charts Search Results Always and Forever Irish Singles Chart Retrieved July 14 2017 Heatwave Always and Forever UK Singles Chart UK Official Charts Company November 4 1978 Retrieved September 25 2018 a b Heatwave Billboard chart info AllMusic com Retrieved 10 August 2009 Whitburn Joel 1993 Top Adult Contemporary 1961 1993 Record Research p 108 Top 100 1978 04 08 Cashbox Magazine Archived from the original on 2012 10 04 Retrieved 2014 12 22 Top 200 Singles of 78 Volume 30 No 14 December 30 1978 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved February 9 2018 Top 100 Hits of 1978 Top 100 Songs of 1978 Musicoutfitters com Retrieved 2016 10 05 Top 100 Year End Charts 1978 Cashbox Magazine Archived from the original on 2012 10 27 Retrieved 2015 11 03 Vandross Billboard chart info AllMusic com Retrieved 10 August 2009 Flick Larry 5 November 1994 Single Reviews PDF Billboard p 95 Retrieved 21 March 2021 Baltin Steve 26 November 1994 Pop Singles Reviews PDF Cash Box Retrieved 7 March 2022 Masterton James 29 January 1995 Week Ending February 4th 1995 Chart Watch UK Retrieved 17 September 2021 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca 1995 02 27 Retrieved 2022 03 13 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca 1995 02 27 Retrieved 2022 03 13 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 05 February 1995 11 February 1995 Official Charts Company Retrieved 2021 10 12 Official Charts Company Luther Vandross Archive today Retrieved 2016 10 05 Music Top 100 Billboard Hot 100 Chart Billboard Luther Vandross Chart history Billboard Retrieved 2016 10 05 Rhythmic Billboard Billboard Hot R amp B Singles Billboard Billboard Adult Contemporary Music Chart Billboard Billboard Whistle Billboard chart info AllMusic com Retrieved 10 August 2009 External links EditHeatwave US 7 inch single Discogs Heatwave UK 12 inch single Discogs Whistle US 12 inch single Discogs Luther Vandross UK CD single Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Always and Forever Heatwave song amp oldid 1129467453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
